Process of smelting metals.



J. D. HILLIARD.

PROCESS OF SMELTING METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 26, 1907.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

6 SHBET$SHEET 1,

J. D. HILLIABD.

PROCESS OF SMELTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1907.

1,080,344. Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. D. HILLIARD.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I l l I l l l 1 PROCESS OF SMELTING METALS.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1907.

| I I l I l l l l l J. D. HILLIARD.

PROCESS OF SMELTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 26, 1907.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

6 $HEETS-SHEET 4.

I 5 w N N W 1 Q g Q 7 II/I/I/III;

3 wucmroz Tivihmoam a tto'owu 3. D. HILLIABD.

. PROCESS 0P SHELTIRG METALS.

urnmuxox nun Nov. 26. 1907.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

[MAJ e sums-sum 5.

J D. 'HILLIABD. rnoonss or sum'mo METALS.

APPI JIOATIOI FILED 10V. 28, 1907.

Patented Dec. 2, 19136 8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HILLIARD, OF ALBANY, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ENGLAND METAL &

MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Processes of smelting Metals, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

. My invention relates to metallurgical processes, andlias for its object the -im provement of such processes.

It relates particularly to the methods of .iroducing and regulating heat in metallurgical furnaces.

The invention is applicable to several allied arts. Certain features render it particularly useful in the reduction of iron and similar ores, while other features render it applicable to and advantageous in the production of materials like calcium carbid, which require an intense-and closely regulated heat.

Certain features of the invention are important because they render it possible to produce ,an even and intense heat without the accession of air or the introduction of any impurities, this being notably -desirable in certain melting operations.

. tion with one or more electric furnaces. It

contemplates the feed ng in. of material 1D Broadly stated, my invention consists in the use in combination of electrical heating means of several types, an'd certain otherheating means.

Ali-important feature of the invention is to advance the heating of a charge by continuous increments; or mother words, be-

fore subjecting the 'inaterial to the final heat of dissociation, to produce in an improved manner preheating of tho'niass which can thus be raised to the final temperature in less time and'with a smaller expenditure of energy than has heretofore been possible.

Stated in terms of one embodiment. the invention calls for a continuously feeding and operating preheating kiln, in combinaa. finely divided state, the 'use of the gases produced during reduction, either directly as fuel or as heating agents, thus making possible.t-hecombination of all the available sources of heat, including the material itself, for the production of an intense andconstaiit heat at the final. point.

In order to accomplish the various pur-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed N ovember 26, 1907. Serial N o. 403,925.

PROCESS OF SMELTING METALS.

Patented Dec. 2, i913.

' poses for which the invention is intended,

the specific form of the electrical heating device to. be employed in some processes .differs from that for others. My invention may therefore be considered to include several forms of electric furnace, to wit: (A) An electric arc furnace working in conjunction witha preheating rotary or oscillating kiln. (B) An electric induction furnace combined with a rotary kiln. (C) An electric induction-furnace for auxiliary heating,

worln'ng in conjunction with a reverberatory furnace and a rotatable kiln. (D) An electric furnace consisting of a combined arc and induction furnace with auxiliary heatmg means. with an auxiliary preheating means, such as a rotary kiln, and a supplementary heat- -ing means consisting of an electric induction furnace. It will be noted that in each of the of the invention is found in the combination of an electric furnace and an auxiliary preheating means. Additional forms, without electric arc furnace and the associated rotary.

kiln. Figs. 1 and 1 are .detail sectional views. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the furnaceincluding the tap holes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the induction furnace. Figs. 3% and 3 show a modified form of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of theinduction furnace on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a. view of a horizontal section showing the magnetizing coil and core and a crucible with. a restricted section. Fig. 6 is'a detail view showing the manner of insulating the metal jacket. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reverberatory. furnace, the auxiliary induction furnace, and a portion of the rotary kiln. Fig.

8 is a sectional view of a combined arc and induction furnace, and a portion ofthe rotary kiln. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an electric arc furnace and'a supplementary auxiliary induction furnacei Fig. 10 .is a modified arrangement of the combined arc and induction furnace. Fig. 11 is'a-further (E) An electric arc furnaceabove mentioned forms, the main principle,

Referring to Figl, the electric arc furnace is denoted in general by A. It consists of an inclosed structure lined with highly refractory materiall, surrounded by a metal casing 2. The heating chamber converges toward the bottom in the ordinary manner and at its top is provided with an opening 3. Disposed in the opening 3 and arranged for longitudinalmovement there through is electrode 4; composed of carbon or other suitable material. A second electrode 5 at the bottom of the chamber is connected with a generator by means of a conductor 6. Disposed above the furnace chamber is a device designed to regulate the temperature of the furnace. 'It consists of a cylinder 7 in which a. piston 8 is arranged for reciproeatory movement At each end of the cylinder 7 are the inlet pipes 9 and 9 leading to a common supply pipe 10, the latter being connected with the pipes 9 and 9 by means of a three-way valve arranged to admit an operating fluid from the supply pipe 10"into one of the pipes 9 and 9 and to provide an outlet for the other pipe. Secured to the piston 8 is a rod 11 to which the upper part of the electrode l is attached. A gasket 12, surrounds the electrode d and prevents the escape of gases from the interior of the furnace. The cylinder 7 is mounted upon a platform 13, supported on upright members 14 and 15, secured upon the top of the furnace. The regulating magnet is shown at 16 and is provided with a movable core 17, attached to a rod 18, pivoted at 19 to an arm 20 which is attached to the three-way valve and arranged to operate the latter in response to any movement of the core 17. The terminals of the reguating magnet 16 are connectedlby means of the conductors 91 and 22 to the terminals of the coil 23 through the center of which passes the conductor 2% leading to the electrode 4" The re ulation of the temperature of the furnace is accomplished as dollows: When the temperature of the furnace is increased the conductivity of the path through the carbon electrodes is also increased, thereby permitting a greater fiow of current through the conductors 6 and 24 This increase of current flowing through the conductor 24: generates an induced current in the coil 23 thereby energizing the magnet 16 which draws in the core 17 and admits the operating fluid to the branch 9. This fluid entering the lower part of the cylinder, causes the piston and the upper electrode to ascend, thereby increasing the resistance at the arc and cutting down the current. By winding the coil 23 with a definite number of turns the induced current can be made to operate the magnet at any desired temperature and to keep the heat of the furnace ap- 28 and a surrounding casing 29.

latter being pivoted on the standards 26 mounted on bases 27. The kiln K consists of a hollow cylinder having a refractory lining At the upper and lower ends of the kiln are water jackets marked 30 and 31 respectively. T he lower water jacket is supplied with water through the pipe (Fig. l), the outlet pipe being shown at 33. in order to further control the temperature of the lower part of the rotary kiln there, is an additional water space 84 supplied by means of a pipe 35, which. communicates with the, water space through the medium of a stationary slip ring 36, the latter being held in posi-- tion by the supports 87 and 38 attached to the furnace-A. A drip ring 39 is disposed beneath the slip ring to prevent any drippings of the latter from reaching the fur-- nace A. At the upper eiid of the inclined. kiln K is a funnel shaped stationary gas holder H provided with a gas tight cover 40; A feed hopper F provided with a feed regulating device ll communicates with the gas holder H by means of a pipe 4-2. it will be observed that the upper end of the kiln is expanded. This is for the purpose of decreasing the velocity of the gas at this point to permit the dust to settle instead of being carried off with the gas. For the purpose of carrying off the spent gases 1 have provided an exhaust fan E communicating with the gas holder H by means of the pipe S. The rate of rotation of the kiln is designed to be under proper regulation as is also the feed of the hopper F. l'in order to have the heatof the furnace and the kiln under absolute control, I install pipes 4-4 and II-5 to convey -air and a carbonaceous material such as oil or powdered coal which may be blown in as a mixture through the opening 4:0 and consumed to raise the temperature of the furnace and the connected kiln. For watching the progress of the operations I have provided the peep holes 4-7 and 4S and the usual slag hole 4-9 and tap hole 50. It is some this form of my invention may be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description of the variow The ore, v

coke and necessa fluxes are first powdered j and. are fed to t e hopper. F, through the medium'of which the charge is delivered to 'the rotary kiln.

From thence it isfed gradually through the inclined cylinder, in the meanwhile'being subjected to the heat from the, electric furnace and the ascending .gases. The rotary movement of the kiln speed of rotation and the 'feed of the charge to the kiln, one can exactly regulate the' amount and temperature of the chargev to be delivered to the electric furnace. For certain operations it is desirable that the kiln oscillate rather'than rotate, as this has a tendency to heat up the body as a whole and in one mass, instead of overturning the entire material with the resulting product of dust. hen the charge has been delivered to the electric furnace it is subjec'tedto a higher temperature, which may be further increased, as heretofore stated, by the introduction of an auxiliary supply of coal, or oil, and air, the resulting products of the chemical action being carried up through the rotary kiln to preheat the charge as' de scribed. In the electric furnace the slag which rises to the top is withdrawn through I a slag hole provided for that'purpose and the resulting product is withdrawn through the tap hole.

--While' I have shown in detail an electric arc furnace of a-particuiai" form, it will be understood that the. shape of the furnace will depend'entirely upon the kind of smelting operation to be carried on, some furnaces having a chamber with vertical sides, others requiring a chamber with the sides more or less inclined.

The spent gases which are drawn from the gas holder H-by the exhaust fan E, if of the combustible type, may be fed to boilers or engines to generate power, and in any event will be passed through steam boilers for the generation of steam before being allowed to the furnace shown in Fig. 1 is arranged with a pipe 7 5 for the admission of hot air for supplying tlie'nece'ssary oxygen. In this form there-is an inclined preheating hearth 76, upon which the charge from the rotarykiln is delivered. This hearth 76 .formsthe-bottom of an auxiliary heating chamber 77 le'ading to the kiln. At a point where the end of the kiln enters this cham-- her a series of pipes 78 is provided for the admission of air and powdered coal which can bej'blown directly into the open. end of the kiln. This increases the combustion and in certain processes materially adds to the eflectiveness of the furnace. orabsence. of the inclined hearth and the hot air pipe is determined by the nature of the material to be smelted. In every case the pipes for the admission of air. and powdered coal are present and they can be used or-not as desired;

' .Referring ,now to-Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown therein an induction furnace to be used with the rotary kiln already described. This form of furnace may be used to ad 'an tage in certain srneltin processes which have to be performed out 0 contact with the air. The furnace in general is designated at B.

It consists ofa transformer having three limbs X, Y and Z. Each ofthese limbs. has a central'core 53 secured to a common laminated connecting bar 54 by means of the pins 55. Surrounding the'cores 53, and suitably insulated therefrom is 'a helical winding, preferably of flattened copperpipe 56, through which a stream of water may be circulatedl in order to keep down the-temperature. The adjacent coils of the pipe are insulated from one another to prevent short circuiting. The crucible or smelting chamber proper is lined with refractory material and surrounds the central-limb Y, as shown in Fig. 3. In certain constructions I prefer tohave the limb Y set to one side of the chamber in order to provide a restricted channel 1* in the crucible (see Fig. '5). A pipe 57 communicates with the 1 interior chamber of the crucible or smelting chamber and is designed to admit coal or oil from a pipe'58 or air from a pipe 59 in case the smelting process should require the supple ine-ntary heating already described. In the operation of an induction furnace it is at magnetic circuit, 2'. e.,the connecting bar 54:, rotatable-on the pins 55 ofgthe two outside vertical limbs X and Z; the laminated bar being unbolted at the center and'swung up on one of its ends when it is desirable to replace the crucible. Moreover I provide the crucible cover with a joint so that it may be swung to one side for the inspection of materials when required. The slag hole is shown at 60 and the tap hole at 61.

The method of'o'peration of the induction furnace is as follows: The charge from the rotary kiln is fed into the crucible of the induction furnace in-the manner already described, a current being meanwliile passed' through the copper coils on the three limbs. The charge falls to the bottom of the cruci-,

The presence- .times necessary to withdraw the old crucible and to replace it by a new one. To facilitate this operation I make the upper part of the.

id constitutes the sec-oi A .xisiornier, the primal inilucting coppe coils on. 2e

the courhicting in s coo:

. completes the circuit on crucible :ifurnuce, it sets cicuie( sec ndur g proflucia y current in the molten mass and its temperature.

or pertain Work it is desirable i in part of the furnace be at it seat-er n 'ierature than the remainder; and l. oh

i: n this inwreuse in ten ,ure by coiinctin -j the furnace will it rcsl'ric i. see- 1 5). inwhich the cross so ties. i

eriel is less and, therefore, the

Since in this furnace the heat to U h; per unit of length, ((1 deuoth cuitcn Flow and. the T651" once) section being less, the resistance per .i: len th is grezitzr, and with e. necesconstant current in the one turn the restrlcted section is considemhly nae-e.

he furnace and ati'iechi'ed parts should he ode tight so there he no sdunssion of a to cause explosion or entrance of hi:

trogci'i to dilute the With this v rnzice cullm u material which has hitherto been vorthlese is sz'itisfuctorily used to supply the carbon. so that l have provided device which not only economically extracts the "hotel hour the ore but which uses the cheappossible :tuel in doing so and produces u gas high in heat units which should have ii large commercial value for heating purfies. consider the'suving of the gases that are ordinarily Wasted and their use for heating or illuminating purposes, one o" important coje ofiny invention. thus produced is he sold, it is passed 1"011 tl kiln through the usual condec ind thince to a gas lieu her and purifier L r ii lule the furnace should be tightly seaied, ii; is desirable and i so construct it, that pow.

Lions may be easily blown oli end rear 1 replaced in order lo provide tor any explosion that may occur.

will that in operations requiring is cut units the carbon monoxid gas genei in the ii'iduction firiuicc may used this purpose by supiroin the hi,

windings and 56; This .ietic circi with both projecting through the zurriuigen'ient PLOLlLKfQS in two so mute cirdle section of the turnuce can here be cover d up and at the some time free access "11 ire had. to the interior Without reugper part of the ins netic circults.

.n 'l I ha e shown rei'erheratory Truce coin ii led with. induction auxiliary and prehez 21g means. The furnace is denoted in ml by C. it consists of an an. moaned Y cheating hearth {32, in communicziticnwvith the open end of rotary kiln. oi? u hind i iilar to that already described. The o i .te end of the structure is an ranged for supplying auxiliary heat from the combustion of fuel and includesthe coinhustion chamber 63,. the gm c (it and ashpit A shutter 60 is at the in, ner end of the couil'nistion chamber and is designed e. and to direct the heat elongated s ructure having at one end i i'uei. Between the prehczrt henrii 5rd the auxiliary combustion furnace the. 'sposed an induction furnace. 1' is provided with three vertical limbs, 111 1, iii, sun-ounded by their niagnoticing coils 56, as described heretofore. Tlhe main hearth 67' is an annular combined induction and exeernally fired hearth. The furnace provided with the usual archslmpcd roof (i8. commonly used in reverber' tory furnaces. it Will he understood of course that the form of the heating chain her 6 wi i depend largely upon the elm no ter of the eh: rge to he smelted and that while the figure shows a particular form, it is so shown. merely -for purposes of illustration. in OKJBI iLlOHS of the furnaces already described, theohnrge is heated first in the rotary kiln, and then :iiillsupon the preheating hearth 62 Where it is subjected to a greater 11 mt preparatory to a. final heating on the hearth (i7.

The ordinary iorni oieppsrntus in use in the production of steel by the open hearth process, (that is, in the rovcrbcrutory furonce) i. extremely wasteful of heat. When th new charge of scrap is placed in the in mice there is a. rapid absorption of heat by the charge, but as the temperature of the charge approaches the temperature of the hot gas. and the limit oi? the temperature obtained in the ordinary furnace, this absorp tion becomes slower and slower, and the amount of heat thrown away greater and greater, so that the time'required to uise the charge the last few hundred degrees is very great and. the-expense; comparatively high. combining the reuerh'emtory furnuce with the induction furnace and utilizin this heat energy generate steam which may be used in the induction furnace in the manner already described, the time of melting is greatly reduced, as is also the cost and, moreover, the final operation is held under perfect control. The quality of the product of, this furnace is very much better since the oxidizing gas may be absolutely excluded from thefurnace during the final moments of operation. In the ordinary work, and preferably in all work, it is necessary to make use of the pyrometer, and accordingly provision is'made for its use in the furnaces where it is required.

In Fig. 8 I have shown my invention as applied to a combinedarc and induction furnace with the usualpreheating means. In this form the carbon electrodes 70 and 71 extend from the top of the furnace downwardlv into the interior of the crucible, be ing separated to provide an arc of sufiicient resistance 'to maintain the right temperature.- The pipe 72 with the branches 73 and 74 for oil or coal, and air, respectively, also terminates in'the crucible in the vicinity of the are. vA re lating device, similar to the one already escribed in connection with Fig. 1, may be employed to regulate the arc.

There are manyadvantages in 'my combination of the arc and induction furnace, among which the,following are distinctive and of great importance: firstthe ability to establish and maintain thetemperature of the furnace at any desired point until all the necessary chemical reactions-have taken place. These reactions are carried on without the possibility of contact with any impurities introduced from the outside and one is therefore absolutely certain of the results. Second-certain valuable by-products may be saved which are usually Wasted in the ordinaryfurnace.

In processes requiring an admixture 'of limestone with the ore, the carbon dioxid given off from the heated limestone, would be mixed with the carbon monoxid and set free by the electric furnace. This is not desirable and may be avoided by forming the rotary kiln intwo sections and providing a chamber therebetween from-which the gas to be used for fuel, 71. 6., the carbon monoxid anda'ny other combustible gases may be led directly to the burners.

In Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, I have shown an arrangement in whichthere is first a preliminary heating in the rotary kiln, a. sec- .ond heating in the arc furnace and a supplemcntary and finalheating in the induction furnace. In Fig. 9 the arc furnace is shown as elevated above the induction furnace but connected directly therewith by means of a pipe 79. In Fig. 10 I have shown a modified form in which the arc furnace is placed side by side with the induction furnace, the passage-way .80 being provided for the purpose of charge from the former into the latter. Fig. 11 shows an electric arc furnace elevated above the induction furnace and separate therefrom. The outquirements. Moreover, it may be desirable at some stages to admit air and at others to exclude it. Thus in .the form of furnace shown in Fig.9 the. charge in the upper arc furnace A may receive a heating to a certain temperature and may be subjected-to a supplementary heating of. another temperature under different conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what .I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. The process of producing a purified metal which consists in the following stepsi (l) mixing the necessary material directly at normal temperature; (2) feeding the mixturecontinuously directly into a constantly traveling body of heated gases; (3) maintaining a regular, continuous and retarded advance of the mixturefor a considerable distance through and in opposite direction to the flow of heated gases, so as toprogressively absorb heat therefrom; i) continuously agitating the material throughout its entire path of travel so as to expose every portion thereof to the action of the gases; (5) passin the mixture in its final heated condition ue to the action of the gases into an enlarged generating and reducing chamber, without interrupting or retarding the generation or flow of gases therefrom into the preheating space or kiln; and (6) raising the temperature of the heated mixture so as to effect complete reduction, by means of electrical energy continuously conducted therethrough, while maintaining constant, free and unimpaired flow of the gases therefrom over the incoming stream of material'throughout its entire path of travel, to the point of introduction.

2. The process of producing a purified metal which consists in the following steps: (1) mixingthe necessary material directly at normal temperature; (2) feeding the mixture continuously directly into a constantly traveling body of heated gases; (3) maintaining a regular, continuous and somewhat slow advance of the mixture for a considerable distance through and in opposite direct-ion to the flow of heated gases, so as to progressively absorb heat therefrom; (4), contmuously agitating the material throughout its entire path of travel so as to expose every portion thereof to the action of the gases; passing the mixture'in its final heatedcondition due to the action of the gases intoan enlarged generating and reducing chamber, without interrupting or retarding the generation or flow of gases therefrom into the preheating space or kiln; (6) raising the temperature of the heated -mixture so as to ettect complete reduction,

metal which consists in the following steps:

(1) mixing the necessary material directly at normal temperature; (2) feeding the mixture continuously directly into a constantly traveling body of heated gases; maintaining a regular, continuous and retarded advance of the mixture for a considerable distance through and in opposite direction to the How of heated gases, so as to progressively absorb heat therefrom; a continuously agitating the material throughout its entire path of travel so as to expose every portion thereof to the action of the gases; (5) passing the mixture in its final heated condition due to the action of the gases into an enlarged generating and reducing chamber, without interrupting or retarding the generation or dew of gases therefrom into the preheating space or kiln; (6) raising the temperature the heated ture so as to effect complete reduction,

by means oi? electrical energy continuously conducted therethrough, while maintaining constant, tree and unimpaired flow of the gases thereform over the incoming streamoi cite-rial throughout its entire path of travel, to the point'of introduction; {7) expanding the gases so as to retard their flow at said point of introduction of the mixture, and free the same from dust and impurities, and (8) drawing otE the gases and products oi combustion when thus retarded and puritied; the entire process of passing-the mixture from its point oi? introduction to the point oi final reduction, and the reverse travel of the gases from the point of generation to the final point of discharge, being conducted in continuously communicating preheating and heating chambers closed against the ingress oi air.

4. The process of producing a metal which consists infipremixing a subdivided mass of I the material to be reduced and the reducing its material, introducing the mixture at one end of a. greatly elongated gas-tight inclosure, passing the same 111 interrupted or agitated progression through said inclosure, collectof heat in an increasing ratio during its entire travel, and separating and removing the metal andthe slag so as to maintain the continuity of the process.

5; The process of producing ametal which consists in pro-mixing the metallic material to be reduced and the reducing material in a subdivided mass, continuously feeding said mass of material containing the metal into one end of an elongated hot oven or kiln, passing the same continuously therethrough, gently agitating the material continuously during its travel, collecting the material at the end of the travel and heating to the required temperature by means of electric current induced in the smelting body through the walls of a gas-tight inclosure openly and freely communicating with the kiln or oven, causing the excess heat from the said current to be communicated to the combustible gases due to the reaction, causing said gases to pass backwardly over the traveling stream of material throughrmt its entire extent to the point of introduction and to be burned during the passage, whereby the material will be preheated by receiving progressive increments of thermal energy in an increasing ratio as it travels, maintaining the charge continuously, and removing the slag and molten metal.-

6. The process of producing a metal. which consists in mixing subdivided metallic ore, fluxing material and anthracite culm at normal temperatures, feeding the same into a hot oven or kiln, passing the same in a continuous attenuated stream through said 'oven or kiln, collecting the heated. material in a furnace chamber communicating gastight with said oven or kiln, further heating to the desired temperature by means of electrical energy and finally passing the heated gases resulting therefrom backward over the incoming stream or charge, sons to raise the temperature thereof by progressive increments in a regularly increasing ratio through its entire travel.

7. The process of smelting and the production of metallic iron, cement slag and combustible gas, which consists in mixing subdivided oxid of iron, limestone or lime, clay, silica and carbonin'duepro ortions at normal 'temperatures,j gfceding t 6 same kiln, imparting. to

when mixed into a the subdivided mixture through said oven or the stream continuous 1notion supplementary to its forward. travel, collecting the material at the end of its travel in an inclosure in gas-tight communication With the kiln, heating the in by means of electrical energy to the required temperature of reduction, causing the hot gases to pass backward through the kiln over the incoming mixed stream to raise the temperature thereof by progressive increments in increasing ratio during its travel, drawing cit the residue of the gases after passing through the kiln, and Separating and removing the slag and iron at the end of the operation so as to render the latter continuous.

8. A process for continuously smelting metal, Whereina charge is mixed at a normal low temperature, fed continuously through an extended path "of travel to areduction point, heated thereat to the necessary temperature of reduction, and the heated products thereof caused to act continuously in rehot oven or kiln, passing mass thereverse order upon the advancing charge'so as to raise the temperature thereof in a uniform but progressive ratio throughout its entire path of travel from beginning to end.

9. A metal, wherein a charge is mixed at normal temperatures, fed through extended-path of travel to a reduction point, passed 'intoa crucible thereat, continuously heated in the crucible by plete reduction, preheated in successive in-. crements from the beginnin to the endof its introductory travel by t lie'prod'ucts of combustion from the crucible passing over and through it, and superheated as a preliminary to complete reduction at the point of its passage into the crucible, by intense combustion due to jetsof oil or coal-dust or the like With an oxidizin agent.

In testimony whereof I ati in presence oftwo witnesses.-

J. D. HILLIARD. Witnesses H. J. HUNNSIOKER, M. L. STEVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentl,

wuhington, D. 0.

process for continuously smelting electrical meansto efiect com X my signature 7 

